How to Get Rid of the Income Tax

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Oppose the Shadow with Magic!

Midnight: Sorcery and Shadow (Midnight)
Fantasy Flight Games
Manufacturer: Fantasy Flight Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Midnight: Steel and Shadow

Midnight, Second Edition

Midnight: Minions Of Shadow

Midnight: Forge of Shadow: A Sourcebook for Steel Hill [d20 system]

Under the Shadow (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Midnight Setting)

ASIN: 1589941489

Book Description

This book contains: dozens of new spells designed for the world of Midnight, but useful in any campaign, New covenant items, powerful magical weapons and gear that increase in power along with the characters, new feats, prestige classes, spell-boosting charms, magic options for channelers, wizards, druids, and even legates, the evil desciples of the shadow.

Customer Reviews:

Oppose the Shadow with Magic!.......2007-07-21

Magic in Midnight is rare and powerful and illegal. In the Midnight campaign setting, practitioners of magic are a hunted breed, unless said practitioner is "working" for the dark god Izrador. Sorcery and Shadow is a sourcebook expanding upon the magic in the Midnight setting, both mechanically and setting-wise. This makes this book an asset to both DMs and Players, though a DM will want to read the book first and probably limit the information available to the player by asking him/her not to read specific sections (mainly the first two chapters).

A disclaimer is need here: I do not consider myself a good judge of rules, prestige classes, spells, feats, and actually any other thing that relates to the mechanics of d20; and while I will certainly describe some of these rules here, know that I cannot say if they are balanced or not, just how fitting they are in the world of Midnight. I will focus my review on the content of the book accompanying said rules.

As is usual for Midnight supplements it is a 64-page, black and white soft-cover.

The front cover of the book is a full color drawing depicting three warriors defending a spellcaster that is in the middle of casting a spell or practicing some ritual that will save the party from the onslaught of many monstrous enemies. In a very Midnight-y mood, the spell cast is not flashy and dangerous, but subtle and ominous; the way magic is in Midnight. The interior art is very good, dark and moody showing us both the desperation and hope of the world of Midnight.

This sourcebook has five chapters which I will break down for you:

Chapter 1 is short but is very good. It starts by describing the importance of sorcery and its practice by the resisting forces, and then goes into discussing the tragedy that was the systematic destruction of all knowledge by the forces of Izrador in the wake of their conquest, and the hope that is in finding and recovering knowledge thought lost. I found several ideas while reading this chapter that could be used in any campaign either randomly to demonstrate the loss of knowledge, or as ideas for whole adventures or short encounters.

Chapter 2 presents 15 new power nexuses and two sites important to the study of magic for both the forces of good and evil. Power nexuses are locations (a tree, a standing stone, a lava flow, the top of a mountain, etc.) specific to the Midnight setting that have a limited amount of power that may be harnessed to either fuel spells or create magical items, and for that reason they are sought after by both sides of the conflict. The power nexuses are spread throughout the continent of Eredane and each one on its own could provide a DM with one or two adventure arcs. In fact, several side-bars throughout this chapter describe how a search for a nexus could be the culmination of an adventure, or at least a highlight; monsters that might be found in the vicinity of such a powerful site and the plans that the Order of Shadow has for these places.

Two important sites are described in detail, one for the forces of good and the other for the forces of evil: The Five Towers is probably the only safe haven for spellcasters outside of Caradul, the elven capital; and the site for the forces of evil... I'll just say that it is appropriately dark and corrupted and evil (I'm trying to avoid too many spoilers). Both sites are described in detail (map included), including their importance, and a general description of the people there though no NPC is given. While I (personally) do not have any need for stat blocks and such, I do wish there was even a short description of perhaps the prominent figure in each place.

Chapter 1 and 2 also introduce to the reader (in the form of several side-bars) the story of Aradar, a legendary Power Nexus that might or might not exist, and its importance to the resistance and to the Shadow's forces. A possible cryptic location is provided that could actually be almost anywhere on Eredane, and even this description does not say with certainty that this is the location of Aradar.

Chapter 3 starts the more mechanical aspect of the book. First up we are introduced to a new form of magic call Runes of Power. Runes are similar to scrolls or potions in that they are a medium for spells, but offer much more flexibility. They could be activated through the "pouring" in of spell energy or by reading the rune; it might be single use, multiple, or continuous; it might allow a reader to learn the spell etched in the rune or not. This might sound too good if not for the fact that runes are not very portable, so for example a rune of create water that is constantly active would need to be carved on an object that weights at least 125 lbs and an area of at least 2.5 sq. ft, and that's a 0-level spell. Runes could present interesting options for DMs (especially DMs, since not many players would want to create things they cannot carry with them) as they could use strategically placed runes to give players access to a one time powerful spell that might save them, or to give the channeler player a new spell to learn among other things. Throughout the chapter nice little side-bars with examples of runes from the different cultures of Eredane are presented for the different schools of magic, given the reader a small insight into the tradition of said race.

30 new spells are introduced in this chapter, and while I'm sure that most might be used in other settings other than Midnight, they all have the Midnight flavor. An idea is also presented in this chapter that new spells could be learned through quests such as finding an earth spirit to learn stoneskin. Several one sentence ideas are given divided into schools (of magic) or spell descriptor (acid, fire, etc.), and I most confess that I love these, as most of them are an adventure\campaign-in-a-sentence.

Chapter 4 presents us with several feats (all of course directly related to magic), four new heroic paths, and four new prestige classes. The prestige classes are, of course, all magic related, and while the Gardener of Erethor is a bit bland with an interesting enough introduction that is sadly not backed up by its abilities, the Snow Witch and the Syphon (sort of a warrior with some magical abilities that learns how to use the magic of his enemies as he fights and kills them) more than make up for it.

Chapter 5 first offers a random charm table which would have been more interesting if it included some random power table as well along with the material from which the charm is created. Second part of the book presents nine new covenant items; and the final part of the chapter gives us four new creatures, most of which are spellcasters themselves or are dangerous to spellcasters.

I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this book to people not playing in Midnight. The prestige classes, new creatures, and feats are all directed and designed for Midnight. Most of the new spells I guess could be used elsewhere and the Runes of Power mechanic could easily be ported over to core d20 spell mechanic (just change number of spell energy needed to activate rune, into appropriate level spell slot) I guess. But with the plethora of spells, and new mechanics available from other sources... I don't believe non Midnight users will find it very useful.

This book, while full to the brim with technical stuff such as new spells, feats, and prestige classes, is likewise full of ideas that might be used to anything from small encounters to short adventures, to a whole epic campaigns taking the players on a mystical and dangerous journey to find if Aradar is myth or not. As a Midnight DM, even if you are not interesting in adding the Runes of Power mechanic and more spells into you Midnight game, this book still offers plenty, and is a good read.

Book Description

Did you know that duct tape can turn any item of clothing into rainwear? That duct tape over a computer screen will keep your kids from surfing naughty sites on the Web? That a perfect solution for those easy-to-lose TV remotes is to duct tape them to your arm? (Not only won't you lose it, you'll never have to relinquish control over it, either!) But can you also believe that Jim and Tim's creative ideas for duct tape spawned not just one bestselling book, but three, plus a calendar? And now the ultimate collection?

With two-thirds of the material drawn from their previous books and calendars and one-third all-new, The Jumbo Duct Tape Book is pure nuttiness to the nth degree. The premise is right there, on page one: "One rule can get you through life. It if ain't stuck and it's supposed to be, duct tape it." But of course it's the intrepretation that counts-like duct taping the gas pedal for cruise control, or duct taping marbles to your pressure points for instant reflexology. And then there's bending the rule-transforming sneakers into golf shoes by punching nails through duct tape and taping it to the soles, saving energy by taping all switches in the off position. Plus cosmetic dentistry (use white tape for the "The Mask" look, silver for the metal-mouth bad guy look), cell phone safety (tape phone to side of head while driving so hands stay on wheel), home decorating (use duct tape for easy drapery tie-backs). You can even convert the book to a "hard cover" by taping a piece of 1/4 inch sheet of plate steel to the front and back covers. It'll last for years!

Customer Reviews:

The Jumbo Book of Duct Tape.......2006-11-10

I love the humor with which this book was written. The book shows "real" ways to fix things, and it shows how to make simple items with DUCT TAPE. It also has a few silly ideas for fun. I gave this book, along with a roll of DUCT TAPE, to a friend for his birthday. (Well, you wouldn't give a toy without a battery! lol)

Wow...this thing sucks!.......2006-01-11

I was given the page-a-day calendar based on this foolish book as a Christmas gift. It's chock full of the same dribble mentioned in the previous reviews. Here's another fine example: "Refrigerator Repair. Jim's whole refrigerator door fell off, and he made a whole new door out of duct tape!" That's it. No further detail offered up. If it's actually true (hard to imagine) a bit more detail might of actually made the story mildly entertaining. I suppose it's meant to be a joke. The problem of course is quite obvious - it's simply not funny!

To put it quite frankly, this is a book written by idiots for idiots. If you're the type who thought those old Dorf on Golf videos staring Tim Conway were a hoot, then this might be your cup of tea. If Hee Haw and the Red Green Show strike you as high-brow entertainment, then by all means order your copy right now. And what about my calendar? After about a week of this crap I started to feel having it displayed in my office might in fact sully my reputation. It's now at home sitting upside down beside the phone for use as a tear-off note pad.

Way too stupid - don't waste your $ on this book.......2004-12-10

I was looking for a book that could actually tell me about practical things you could do with Duct Tape. Unfortunately, much of this book is filled with stupid-trying-to-be-funny things. Yes, there are a few good practical ideas, but most sound like they came from bad comedy writers struggling to come up with something funny. As a result, most of the book is filled with really stupid things that are far from funny.

Here are some examples of some pages: "Muzzle your mutt" with a graphic of duct tape around a dogs nose and mouth. Ha ha? Use a wadded up piece of duct tape in place of a silver tooth filling. Ha ha. Duct tape your telephone hand set down so you won't be inclined to answer the phone during the dinner hour when a telemarketer calls? Ha ha.

My 12 year old is funnier than these guys. Now I've wasted my 8 bucks and I'm still looking to find a decent book about duct tape. Don't make the same mistake I made- save your money.

Funny.......2002-04-26

The perfect gift for anyone you eiether has a sense of humor or likes to use duct tape. Many of the ideas stated in this book are useful, while others are funny, but not useful. Highly recommended

Bible-Schmible! This is THE book to own!.......2001-12-19

Bible-Schmible! This is THE book to own!
As a 64 year old retired plumber, I'm not one to often admit my feelings. But in this case, I will make an exception- The Jumbo Duct Tape Book made me cry. Tears of relief, tears of joy, tears of longing.
I've fixed quite a few things in my time, and I've probably used more than my fair share of duct tape. (...)
Among the many useful tricks you will learn in your new Bible are:
-Duct Tape Clothing: High fashion on a $2.45 budget
-Duct Tape Jewelery: Functions just as well as the real stuff, and screams "I'm practical and down-to-earth"
-Duct Tape AIBO Robotic Dog: Just cover a normal dog in duct tape, and voila! The kids will never know the difference!
And, of course, the awe-inspiring "Duct-Tape Mansion".

Book Description

Halloween and duct tape-it's a marriage made in nutty heaven. Presenting the loopiest duct tape book of them all: a guide to using the universal adhesive for disguise, decoration, tricks, and treats on the holiday where everyone's encouraged to act a little crazy.

The Original Duct Tape Halloween Book is a four-color, fully illustrated holiday sourcebook offering more than 101 clever costume ideas, plus dozens of other creative and mischievous uses for duct tape. There are costumes that are quick and easy-Shaving Accident Guy: apply a short strip of red duct tape to your face, and attach a disposable razor to one end. Off-the-wall-Floor of a Movie Theater: Make yourself a sticky-side-out duct tape vest, and cover with popcorn kernels,candy wrappers, and crushed paper cups. Batty-Chia Pet: cover yourself in duct tape (sticky side out) and roll around on freshly mown grass. Ambitious-Marilyn Monroe: Use a tight wrapping of white duct tape over your upper torso and a wire-rigged fly-away dress on your lower half. And congenial-Siamese Twins: Duct tape yourself to your best friend or spouse. Plus how to make giant bats and spiders to scare the kids; holiday pranks (duct tape down the trigger of an air horn and toss it on someone's roof); even a dieting tip: wrap candy in duct tape before eating-all the calories are trapped inside! Halloween will never be the same.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing! Hilariously creative!.......2003-10-05

This book is not only the most creative effort of the Duct Tape Guys (by far), it's colorful (full color throughout), funny, and actually useful as a year around costume idea book. Their sixth book, "Duct Tape Halloween" definitely sets the new standard for duct tape books! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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A Great Gift Book for the Hubby!
Your husband will LOVE this book!
Duct Tape Guys ROCK!
their best yet!
Duct Tape Rules!

The Duct Tape Book
Tim Nyberg , and Jim Berg
Manufacturer: Pfeifer-Hamilton Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1570250421

Book Description

When duct tape lovers throughout the world cried out for more ways to use their favorite adhesive, Jim and Tim--the Duct Tape Guys--answered their call. More than 200 outrageous, never-seen-in-book-form hints are jam-packed into the third and final edition of the duct tape trilogy: the Ultimate Duct Tape Book.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Gift Book for the Hubby!.......1999-11-02

After thirty years of marriage - it gets pretty hard to find something new and fun to give your husband. The Duct Tape Books (all three) are great fun! My husband has loved each and every one and we're looking forward to the next! This book has uses for duct tape that even Jeff (hubby) hasn't thought of. Good clean humor! Buy a few copies - you'll think of lots of people that need these clever books!

Your husband will LOVE this book!.......1999-11-02

Duct Tape Guys ROCK!.......1999-11-02

Jim and Tim ROCK! Duct Tape Rocks! This Book ROcks! I'd be nowhere without duct tpae! Our band uses it on everything! This book is going to be my Christmas gift to all our roadies! Rock-ON! Duct Tape Rules!

their best yet!.......1999-11-02

I can't believe that the duct tape guys have found even more uses for the gray wonder roll - but they have! This volume (3) is bigger and even funnier than Jim and Tim's first two books. A must-have gift for my dad and the duct tape lover in your life - it completes the trilogy... but knowing these goofballs, they will probably do a fourth book in the trilogy.

Duct Tape Rules!.......1999-04-29

There is no substitute for Duct Tape and NO book like the Original Duct Tape Book. The Duct Tape Guys have created a humor (and sometimes even helpful) book on all (?) the uses for duct tape. I guess they found even more uses since they have two other books on the subject. I give this book as a gift to friends getting married and moving - it's always appreciated and received with many laughs.

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The Duct Tape Book
Karen Peebles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SE0H92

Product Description

Excellent handbook for duct tape projects and a little bit of background on the product as well as a few practical uses for it.

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All You Need is Duct Tape
Even funnier than their first!

Duct Tape Book Two: Real Stories
Jim Berg , and Tim Nyberg
Manufacturer: Pfeifer-Hamilton Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Jumbo Duct Tape Book

ASIN: 1570250782

Book Description

Duct Tape Book Two features real hints from real people and, of course, commentary from the Duct Tape Guys along with famous duct tape quotes and photos from The Duct Tape Guys Tape the World--World Tour.

Customer Reviews:

All You Need is Duct Tape.......2004-10-09

This book is filled with more stories, advertisements, quotes, and pictures. Who knew Duct Tape was so versatile? This book is a great gift for all those guys who use duct tape for everything.

Even funnier than their first!.......1998-11-03

The Duct Tape Guys have done it again. They have come up with even MORE uses for duct tape - and fully imbellished it with illustrations and photos this time. A world tour photo essay and fake ads make this a completely must-have for the duct tape lover.

The Jumbo Duct Tape Book : The Gigantic, Exhaustive, Really Thick, Ultra Informative, Mother-of-em-all Book by Jim and Tim, The Duct Tape Guys

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The Jumbo Duct Tape Book : The Gigantic, Exhaustive, Really Thick, Ultra Informative, Mother-of-em-all Book by Jim and Tim, The Duct Tape Guys

Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GRRJNS

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Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape)
Carrie Jones
Manufacturer: Flux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0738712574

Book Description

In the follow-up to Carrie Jones Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend, Belle is closing in on her last few months in high school. With a cool and loving straight boyfriend, the bestest best friend a girl could ask for, and a house full of fans when playing her guitar, things are much better than they were before.

But everyone else seems to be more excited with the upcoming changes in their lives than Belle. Her mom has a new boyfriend who makes her giggle and her best friend Em and boyfriend Shawn are madly in love and always showing it! Even Belles ex is happy with his new guy, Bob. So whats wrong with Belle and Tom? Nothing is whats the matter. Nothings happening at all. No sex, no "I love you." Nada. Whats a girl to do?

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Popular Mechanics When Duct Tape Just Isn't Enough: Quick Fixes for Everyday Disasters (Popular Mechanics)
C. J. Petersen
Manufacturer: Hearst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1588165655

Book Description

Popular Mechanics knows: there are two types of people in the world—those able to fix whatever goes bust, and those who beg the first group for help when something goes wrong. But it doesn’t have to be that way, because this easy-to-follow guide will give anyone the basics to tackle those frustrating (and sometimes nerve-wracking) quandaries that crop up around the house: plumbing problems, electrical snafus, appliance failures, computer and electronics breakdowns, pest infestations, and furniture in need of renewal. They range from the serious to the merely annoying, but every one is cause for concern. So, whether the issue is a fast repair for a running toilet or a leaking pipe, or a simple, inexpensive way to keep deer from pillaging the garden, it’s all in here.

Red Green's Duct Tape Forever: The Movie

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Red Green's Duct Tape Forever: The Movie

Manufacturer: Acorn Media Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Celebrity duct tape contest? New book documents some 250 Hoosier oddities across the state. (Opener).(Indiana Curiosities lists many oddities about state): An article from: Indiana Business Magazine

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Celebrity duct tape contest? New book documents some 250 Hoosier oddities across the state. (Opener).(Indiana Curiosities lists many oddities about state): An article from: Indiana Business Magazine
Steve Kaelble
Manufacturer: Curtis Magazine Group, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Indiana Business Magazine, published by Curtis Magazine Group, Inc. on July 1, 2003. The length of the article is 507 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Celebrity duct tape contest? New book documents some 250 Hoosier oddities across the state. (Opener).(Indiana Curiosities lists many oddities about state)
Author: Steve Kaelble
Publication: Indiana Business Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2003
Publisher: Curtis Magazine Group, Inc.
Volume: 47 Issue: 7 Page: 4(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

A revealing insider's look at one of Hollywood's most prominent, private, and notoriously difficult directors; at the way the film business works; and at the Washington/Hollywood connection. JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me is the funny, thoughtful memoir of an accomplished former Congressional staffer who left D.C. for Hollywood and a job with Oliver Stone, hoping to help make politically engaged films and a difference, and found himself instead in a wildly dysfunctional universe ruled by greed, paranoia, narcissism, competition, alcohol and drugs. After finishing law school, Eric Hamburg became an unusually effective young staffer on Capitol Hill-convincing his boss, Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, to submit a bill that would release the House's closely held files on the John F. Kennedy assassination investigation, one of Hamburg's own pet obsessions. This led to his meeting Oliver Stone and soon-much to his own surprise-Hamburg found swimming amongst the sneakiest of Hollywood sharks. Hamburg describes his fascinating experiences working on the films Nixon and Any Given Sunday while navigating the arcane politics of Stone's studio, Ixtlan. Pursuing film projects (and Kennedy assassination leads), he also muses on the ways and means of the movie biz; on the strange symbiotic Washington/Hollywood relationship; on the meaning of success and the price of power. His story is a contemporary Mr. Smith Goes to Hollywood, told by a narrator of wit, intelligence, and a singular set of experiences.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting story, but reads like a tabloid........2005-12-27

I bought this book at an inventory clearance, which proved an accurate guide to my expectations. It is the story of a lawyer working as a congressional aide who parlayed his interest in the JFK assassination to become a production assistant to Oliver Stone. The title refers to films of the latter, not JFK and Nixon themselves.
The idea of an intelligent, idealistic outsider learning firsthand about the machinations of Hollywood is certainly intriguing, and this is what the subtitle suggests the theme will be. However, this theme becomes subverted to two parallel, personal agendas of the author: 1. a forum for his own speculations about the "truth" regarding the JFK assassination and Watergate, and 2. a catharsis for the estrangement he suffered from Stone in the wake of their collaboration. Towards the end, it reads like an open letter to Stone, pleading for his rehabilitation from a self-destructive lifestyle. For those who like conspiracy theories and juicy gossip about celebrities, this will be a bonus. Personally, I was hoping to learn more about the process by which Oliver Stone gets his movies made, and less about the shortcomings of the man without whom, I think it is fair to say, there would be no market for this book.
At one point, Hamburg writes that he came to Hollywood to "learn how to make political films, not do business deals." Perhaps this was meant to be ironic, since after finishing reading his story, it appears to me that film-making is all about business deals. In fact, it would have been interesting to learn how Oliver Stone arranges the funding to realize his creative vision (and hedonistic lifestyle). Here, there are only a few dismissive comments about seedy-sounding "money men".
One of the useful aspects of this book is its overview of contemporary published opinion on the JFK assassination and Watergate. A bibliography listing the works mentioned throughout the text would have been helpful.

Overwrought and a bit pretentious.......2005-11-30

Hamburg obviously writes for a different genre, allegedly screenwriting. And while ascribing himself much credit, his prose falls largely flat. Many of the sentences read on a basic level, a recitation of his accomplishments, marginal people he met, and esoteric details that are painful to dig through. For the Stone fan, an interesting read, for the average person, it has its moments. But its material, and its potential, is so much greater than what Hamburg delivers. For all the material possible, the book delivers flat. It's not worth the money and not really worth the time. It often reads as Hamburg's diary entries, with most chapters being a scant three or four pages, rather than a real story about great opportunities and fascinating characters. Hamburg is also a constant name-dropper, for almost no discernable reason. It seemed as though Hamburg's insights were immature, overwrought, and full of snide commentary and self promotion. It's no coincidence that his career centers on the two parts of the country that hype both: Hollywood and Washington.

Book Report by Brent Simon - JFK, Nixon, Stone.......2003-05-22

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me

Eric Hamburg

Public Affairs

reviewed by Brent Simon

A deliciously, amazingly illuminating account of Tinseltown excess, Eric Hamburgýs JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me recounts an idealistýs journey from Capitol Hill to Hollywood hell. A terrifically entertaining read disguised with a memoirýs overcoat, Hamburgýs book details his occupational pilgrimage from legislative assistant under influential House of Representatives member Lee Hamilton to his position at director Stoneýs Ixtlan Films, where he handled legal and business affairs while also initiating the ideas that would in time come to take shape as the films Nixon and Any Given Sunday.

Itýs a very personal book, and draws almost exclusively from the authorýs remembrances and journal entries of the time covered. This means first there is some overlap, both thematically and in detail; Hamburg sometimes repeats himself even closely within the text in a manner unacceptable for top-shelf reportage. He even blatantly misidentifies Reese Witherspoon as Brooke Shields at point. Still, these occasional faux pas (was the book even edited?) do not blunt the tomeýs power or change its bottom line.

For those interested in the ins and outs of high-end cinematic wheeling and dealing, Hamburgýs book is chock full of tasty firsthand details about Oliver Stoneýs peccadilloes and a myriad of ever-rotating but always kooky projects he pursued in bits and pieces. Of the latter, most intriguing were planned biopics on J. Edgar Hoover and Manuel Noreiga (Al Pacino graciously refused $10 million from a pay-or-play deal when it fell apart), plus movies on Afghanistan, Stoneýs obsessive hatred of columnist Maureen Dowd (known in various iterations as Media and Power) and even a possible sequel to JFK, which was the project Stone was working on when Hamburg first met him. The details of the directorýs disastrous personal life are even more vivid and revelatory: Stoneýs ceaseless drug abuse, irrational flare-ups, legendary cheapness, interpersonal abrasiveness and possible shaping youthful sexual encounter(s) with his motherý yikes!

Most unnerving, though, are Hamburgýs stories of his dealings and interactions with Danny Halsted, a former Disney exec who wormed his way into Stoneýs production company and whom Hamburg refers to here almost exclusively as "Danny the Weasel." To recount the many jaw-dropping instances of Halstedýs idiocy, conniving, theft and general disreputable behavior would take too much space here, but suffice to say that it both represents and confirms all the worst youýve ever heard or suspected about Hollywood suits masquerading as creative executives. This isnýt a horror novel, but at times JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me ranks right up there with the most unsettling of Stephen Kingýs works.

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from.......2003-05-20

This book was lousy fluff. The author is a testament to Washington/Hollywood self-absorption, and is very comfortable blaming the USA (and its' alleged CIA/Cuba connections) for all the world's wrongs. Meanwhile, the author is completely star-struck in the company of the totalitarian murderer, Fidel Castro. Go figure.

Book Review from the Hollywood Reporter 12/24/02.......2003-03-08

JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone Dec. 24, 2002 By Michael Farkash Eric Hamburg Public Affairs,464 pages As the song goes, "Paranoia strikes deep." That's one of the central experiences of a savvy political aide and speechwriter who went to work for writer-director-producer Oliver Stone. Eric Hamburg's "JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me: An Idealist's Journey From Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell" is a sharp, well-written book that tunes into some familiar territory, notably the bad, mad geography of film production politics and the decades-old mysteries surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy and the Cuban connection. The book is very accessible, very readable and filled with admiration for professionals like Anthony Hopkins and mixed, mostly angry assessments of Stone and the people surrounding the filmmaker. The dark byways of the film biz should have been no surprise for the bright, politically astute Hamburg, who worked for years on Capitol Hill -- but then, hearing about the nasty, difficult parts of the film production process and living them are two quite different things. Serving as a producer and development executive at Stone's production company, Ixtlan, the author originated and won co-producing credits on the films "Nixon" and "Any Given Sunday." He explores the paranoid, vain, greedy, sometimes drug-fueled aspects of Stone's world of film development, where solid ground can often give way to a quicksand of uncertainty. Using his Washington connections, Stone's name and persistence, Hamburg was able to get key figures from the JFK and Nixon years to meet with him and Stone and persuade them to contribute stories and background to Stone's films. He also shares with us his research trips to places like Cuba and a brief meeting with Fidel Castro. But Hamburg became quickly disenchanted with what he calls the "Oliver Zone" -- suspicions, dark rages, drug use and a habit of playing staff people against one another. It's like royal court intrigue. Writes Hamburg: "Oliver was moody and unpredictable, often irrational and absolutely insane when it came to money. This was a very dangerous subject with him. "However, Hamburg received some good advice -- those three little words that mean everything in negotiations: "Hire a lawyer." In case the reader wonders if film development is a habit-forming occupation -- Hamburg continues working as a producer and writer in Los Angeles.

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Who could object too much?
Informative And A Great Companion To The Film.
Pretty Well Written

Nixon: An Oliver Stone Film

Manufacturer: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786881577

Amazon.com

Richard Nixon left behind a complicated legacy. In this companion to the film, which includes the complete screenplay with full annotation, an interview with Oliver Stone, essays by prominent Watergate figures, previously classified memos and documents from the Nixon White House, and other documentation, Nixon emerges as a political leader governed by personal demons.

Customer Reviews:

Who could object too much?.......2002-01-04

I only like this book because it is clear about the kind of thing which everybody thinks is typical, but most people would think that only fools can object to this much truth and get away with it. To be specific, on pages 371-391 is a Transcript of Conversation in which Nixon and Haldeman talked on May 5, 1971, more than a year before the Watergate break-in, but from a "Watergate Special Prosecution Force File Segment." It might be a conversation about Colson and "a guy that nobody, none of us knows except Dwight." (p. 379). "Thug type guy." (p. 379). "This is the kinda guy can get out and tear things up." (p. 379). "Just ask them to dig up those, their eight thugs." (p. 380). "They, they've got guys who'll go in and knock their heads off." (p. 380). "Murderers. Guys that really, you know, that's what they really do." (p. 380). "And, uh, hope they really hurt 'em. You know, I mean go in with some real--and smash some noses." (p. 380). "They'll just get, the country'll just get a belly full of these people." (p. 381). "There's no, there's no, uh, semblance of respectability." (p. 381). "How the hell do you expect the poor God damned policemen--" (p. 382)? Parts of the transcript were sanitized, RESTRICTED-"D", and the way administration records are likely to be withhelf from public view forever after now, people might as well figure that whatever the government is up to must be in the RESTRICTED-"D" category.

Informative And A Great Companion To The Film........2000-08-29

"Nixon" was, I think, the best film of 1995 (it was certainly more important and fascinating than "Braveheart")and here is a great book that gives you a good glimpse not only into it's production, but into the documents, the testomonies and brilliant artistry that make the film what it is. It starts off with an interesting interview with the great cinema genius Oliver Stone in which discusses the film's genesis (how interesting that he passed on a film about Noriega for this movie). And then come the fascinating, interesting and great essays by important Nixon-era, Watergate figures like John Dean, E.Howard Hunt and one Cuban CIA operative. The co-writers of the screenplay also contribute great essays that explore Nixon and a history of political assassinations and black ops within the American government and its overseas operations. The screenplay itself is brilliant, mingling intrigue with drama and political issues, not to mention thrilling history. Stone, as in "JFK," makes a fascinating study of politics and power with this movie. He also makes a point about how our government conducts operations which involve assassination, secret underdealings etc. just as much as any South American or Central American country. "Nixon: An Oliver Stone Film" is a must for film buffs, political film analysts and fans of Oliver Stone (me).

Pretty Well Written.......2000-03-27

Oliver Stone is known for making intense, controversial movies, based on historical events. I don't know how much of this story of Nixon is true, but what is written is a very dramatic and interesting story of the goings-on in the White House. If you enjoy the film Nixon, check out this book. You will not be disappointed.

A Textual Analysis Of Movie Director Oliver Stone's Nixon (Studies in the History and Criticism of Film)

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A Textual Analysis Of Movie Director Oliver Stone's Nixon (Studies in the History and Criticism of Film)
Russ Witcher
Manufacturer: Edwin Mellen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0773462325

Book Description

Americans love to eat. They are also deeply religious. So it's no surprise that food has an important place in the religious lives of Americans.. They eat in worship services. They drink coffeein church basements. They feed neighbors and strangers in the name of their god. For countless American Protestants, food and church are inseparable. From dry cookies and punch at coffee hour to potlucks and spaghetti dinners, Whitebread Protestants looks at the role food plays in the daily life of white mainline Protestant congregations.

Customer Reviews:

Good descriptions, not very enlightening.......2004-09-14

The title of this book led me to think it would be about religion and consumption, and would have some connection to the growing literature on food and society, food history, and the origins of American food traditions. Instead the book is very narrow - it deals mainly with the tradition of Protestant potluck suppers, and reaches the not-very-surprising conclusion that they were important in building social networks and holding congregations together. And that's pretty much it. You have to provide the analysis and wider context yourself.

Fun, thoughtful, unexpected.......2000-12-20

That bread and wine are at the center of most Christian religious services is not news. But taking that seriously -- the centrality of food in worship, in the communal experience of faith -- gives Sack's book a window into the what we want from our churches and how our churches our drawn into the rest of our lives.

Five chapters, each in a somewhat different voice, look at the way food functions in mainline Protestant churches. It reaches back into the 1800's, at the fierce battles by those who argued that Jesus must have been a temperance crusader who never would let alcohol cross His lips. It moves through the details of Atlanta's current church-based efforts to feed the hungry, and the tension between working to feed the hungry and working to end hunger. It stops by the suburbs of Chicago, to churches where professional cafeterias have replaced potluck dinners. Along the way, you get great anecdotes, solid writing, and a lot to think about.

The simple strength of the narrative alone makes the book worth buying. But the insights you pick up along the way are what will fuel your dinner conversations for some time afterwards.

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Whitebread Protestants : Food and Religion in American Culture
Daniel Sack
Manufacturer: St. Martins Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O6KJTW

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Whitebread Protestants: Food and Religion in American Culture
Daniel (Author) Sack
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTGFMY

Book Description

The Plutonium Pak is the sequel to Duke Nukem 3D, which has sold more than 700,000 units. With more levels, more monsters, even nastier weapons and puzzles to solve, this add-on adventure to Duke Nukem 3D will extend the game's life for many more months. This EXCLUSIVE & OFFICIAL book is the only authorized guide to the game. It includes Apogee and 3D Realms' own maps, strategies, game cheats and special hints...plus interviews with the game developers themselves! Jonathan Mendoza, award-winning, best-selling author of the Official DOOM and Duke Nukem 3D strategy guides, has put together another quality book in his inimitable "techno-gothic" style.

Book Description

Sure, you were happy when the first Mac OS X-compatible version of Word arrived (after all, it's the one software program you can't live without). But this is the version you've really been waiting for. In contrast to Word for Mac OS X-which gelled nicely with the new OS but didn't offer much compelling additional functionality-Word 2004 offers a slew of usability improvements. To start taking advantage of them immediately, you need this task-based guide from popular Mac teacher Maria Langer! Using simple step-by-step instructions, loads of visual aids, and plenty of well-placed tips, Maria gets you up and running fast on the basics before moving on to cover more advanced techniques (formatting, inserting objects, creating outlines, and more). If you're a veteran user, you can go directly to the new material (for example, learning how to record audio notes and link them to your Word docs). And if you're a beginner, you'll appreciate the thorough coverage of all the most common Word tasks.

Customer Reviews:

Hard to read.......2007-09-26

I find the print quality very poor, especially for the example figures. Some of the print is so small and blurred
that I can't even read it with a magnifying glass. Otherwise the overall general text is pretty good.

Word 2004 for Mac OS X.......2007-09-11

I use this program because it is ubiquitous. But that is the only reason. There are programs now beginning to be available that are somewhat interchangeable with Microsoft Word, and it will be a blessing then I can get away from Word. It was a pioneer and therefore seemed great. But now we have much more sophisticated and user friendly choices beginning to come on the market

OK for beginners, but.......2006-12-28

I was looking for a reference for Word 2004 that I could use to solve problems while I use Word. I am an experienced user and was hoping for something that would give me tips and insights into issues like how to work with anchors so that figures get positioned where I want them, and then stay there. Ms Langer's book is an introduction to using Word and is pretty much the same information you'll get from the online help. I've found it to be of little use for the issues I'm trying to address.

For the beginner a great start.......2005-10-22

Like all of the Visual Quickstart Guides, this book is peppered with hundreds of screen shots and tips. This easily accessible, step-by-step guide will take you from absolute beginner to being able to use Word very well. The book does not cover the advanced techniques available in Word, but does show you how to use the vast majority of functions and menu options. At the end of the book, you will be able to create just about any document you could think of, even if it is not always done in the most elegant way available in Word - that is to say not using the elegance of the advanced functionality of Word. But in all fairness, this book does not present itself as an advanced tutorial, but as a beginner/intermediate book and in this it does deliver every thing it promises.

The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and are nicely supplemented by the related screenshots. My one complaint is that there are several occasions in this book where, either because of space constraints, or because the topics broach the territory of advance techniques, or because she wishes you to learn by experimentation, the author will discuss a topic only to tell the reader to experiement with the different option buttons. While this is my one complaint, I did not find this too onerous, since this is how I learned Word in the first place. But for the newbie or faint hearted (when it comes to pressing unknown buttons on a computer) it can be a little daunting. Despite this minor issue the book is a great way to learn to use Word on the Mac and for the newbie or fainthearted, do experiment on practice documents before trying a technique on an important document.

While I have used Word for many years and know many advanced techniques of the application, I am happy to say that I did learn several tidbits that I did not know before. I highly recommend this book.

MS Word for Mac X.......2005-08-05

Very good Introduction, there is nothing comparable to this Book available in the European area on the same price class.

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